Loch Lomond & the Trossachs
The loch, its villages and the hills around it
Loch Lomond is easy from Glasgow: trains run direct to Balloch about twice an hour. Pick a base, then use this guide for walks, car parks, boats and stays.
- Balloch. Direct trains from Glasgow about twice an hour. Sweeney's Cruise Co sails from here.
- Luss. Council car park: £1.20 an hour, charged 9am to 6pm.
- Balmaha. Start of the Conic Hill walk. Bus 309 runs here from Balloch.
- Rowardennan. Start of the Ben Lomond path. Car park £5 all day; no bus serves it.
- Ben Lomond. 974 m (3,196 ft), a Munro.
- Tarbet. Arrochar and Tarbet station is on the West Highland line and links to the summer waterbus.
- Trains to Balloch
- 2/hour
- Shores parking
- £4 a day
- Boat season
- Mar–Nov
- Camping permits
- Mar–Sep
Pick your base
The loch is long and the villages are far apart, so choose one base and one plan. Each line says what the place is for, and every village in the park is compared on its own page.
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Photo: JoachimKohler-HB, CC BY-SA 4.0 Balloch
Go for the easiest arrival without a car: direct trains from Glasgow about twice an hour, and cruises from the pier. It is busier and more built-up than Luss. The Balloch guide covers the pier and parking.
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Photo: Steven Haslington, CC BY-SA 2.0 Luss
Go for the classic lochside village and an easy short visit. The council car park charges £1.20 an hour from 9am to 6pm, and the Luss car park guide has the tariff and payment. The Luss village guide has timings.
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Photo: Michael Graham, CC BY-SA 2.0 Balmaha
Go for the start of the Conic Hill walk and the ferry to Inchcailloch. The village car park gives you the first hour free. The Balmaha guide covers where to park and eat.
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Photo: Bill Kasman, CC BY-SA 2.0 Tarbet and Arrochar
Go for the hills and the train: Arrochar and Tarbet station is on the West Highland line and links to the summer waterbus at Tarbet. Use the Tarbet village guide for the shore. If you want Loch Long, visit Arrochar, where the Glenloin car park costs £10.30 a day.
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Photo: OliverwithaTwist, CC BY-SA 4.0 Rowardennan
Go for Ben Lomond. The car park costs £5 all day and no bus serves it, so plan your lift. The Rowardennan page has the start point and the waterbus from Tarbet.
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Photo: James Allan, CC BY-SA 2.0 The Trossachs
Go for smaller lochs, forest and a quieter day. It is one of the National Park's four areas, and Callander is one of its main communities. The Trossachs area guide sets out the options.
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Loch Lomond in photos
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Top things to do
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Take a boat on the loch
Sweeney's Cruise Co sails from Balloch, and Cruise Loch Lomond from Luss, Balmaha, Tarbet and Inversnaid. Adult fares start at £17 on the Tarbet circular. Boats and ferries compares the routes.
Photo: Rosser1954, CC BY-SA 4.0 -
Spend a day at Loch Lomond Shores
Shops and a lochside area that never closes. Parking has been paid since 28 January 2026, at £4 all day. A guide to Loch Lomond Shores has the rest.
Photo: MSeses, CC BY-SA 4.0 -
Visit SEA LIFE Loch Lomond
Advance tickets start from £14 for adults and cost £21 on the day, and pre-booking is essential. Hours vary through the year. The SEA LIFE ticket guide covers what to know before you go.
Photo: Richard Sutcliffe, CC BY-SA 2.0 -
Cross to Inchcailloch
The ferry costs £10 return for adults and runs daily in summer from 9:25am. The island is a 52 ha nature reserve of oak woodland, with paths of 30 to 45 minutes. Plan the day with the Inchcailloch island guide, or browse more island day trips.
Photo: Thomas Nugent, CC BY-SA 2.0 -
Sail on Loch Katrine
The steamship Sir Walter Scott sails on Loch Katrine. The 2026 season runs to 25 October, with selected sailings from 26 October to 25 March 2027. The Loch Katrine visitor guide has the practical details.
Photo: Richard Sutcliffe, CC BY-SA 2.0 -
Try the high ropes at Aberfoyle
A treetop course in the forest near Aberfoyle, for anyone who wants to be active rather than afloat. Go Ape at Aberfoyle covers what to expect.
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Look for wildlife
Fallow deer live on Inchcailloch, and the woods and shoreline suit birdwatching. Wildlife on the loch lists where to look.
Photo: Billy McCrorie, CC BY-SA 2.0
More ideas for a day out are on the things to do page. Paddlers can start with on-the-water activities, and cycle routes and bike hire covers two wheels. Golfers will find courses near Loch Lomond. Events on the loch shows what is on, restaurants and tearooms covers lunch, and couples can read about getting married by the loch.
A car-free day from Glasgow
Balloch and a cruise
Train, then boat
- Train Direct from Glasgow to Balloch with ScotRail, about two trains an hour.
- Boat Sweeney's Experience Cruise from Balloch: 1 hour, adult £18.50.
Luss by bus or boat
Bus 305 from Balloch
- Bus McColl's Travel runs bus 305 from Balloch to Luss, via Arden.
- Boat Or take the Sweeney's ferry: 1 hour, adult £28 return.
Balmaha and Conic Hill
Bus 309 from Balloch
- Bus Bus 309 runs from Balloch to Balmaha, via Gartocharn and Drymen.
- Walk Conic Hill takes 2 to 3 hours. Check Traveline Scotland for the times on the day.
Walks
Walks range from a half-day hill to a full Munro day, and all walks are listed by effort on their own page.
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Photo: Tim Heaton, CC BY-SA 2.0 Conic Hill
Go for the best view of the loch's islands for the least effort: 4 km, 350 m of climbing and 2 to 3 hours. How to walk Conic Hill has the route and parking.
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Photo: Callum McKay, CC BY-SA 2.0 Ben Lomond
The tourist path is 12 km with 990 m of ascent, and takes 4.5 to 5.5 hours to reach the 974 m summit. Walking Ben Lomond covers the route and weather calls.
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Photo: GeographUser, CC0 West Highland Way
The route follows the loch's eastern side, so a section makes a good day on foot. Plan one with a day on the West Highland Way.
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Photo: Lairich Rig, CC BY-SA 2.0 Three Lochs Way
A waymarked route that links Loch Lomond with Loch Long and the Gare Loch, and can be walked in sections. The Three Lochs Way page explains the stages.
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Photo: Michal Klajban, CC BY-SA 4.0 Ben Ledi
A big hill above Callander and Loch Lubnaig, for a full day in the Trossachs. The Ben Ledi route guide has the details.
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Photo: Stemonitis at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0 The Cobbler
A rocky peak above Arrochar for confident hillwalkers. Read how to tackle The Cobbler before you set off. The Loch Lomond Faerie Trail has its own route page too.
Plan your visit
The planning pages hold the practical answers. These are the ones people need first.
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Car parks
Luss charges £1.20 an hour, Balmaha gives the first hour free, and Rowardennan is £5 all day. Where to leave the car lists them by village.
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Camping
In the National Park's camping management zones you need a permit in that season, and a stay is limited to 3 nights in one area. Camping rules around the loch explains the zones.
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Weather and seasons
Boats run to 1 November this year, and the Three Lochs Forest Drive closes to vehicles for the winter, from 30 September in 2026. The best months to come page sets out the seasons.
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Getting there
Trains reach Balloch, buses serve Luss and Balmaha, and Citylink and Ember coaches stop at several villages. How to get here covers each route.
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Map
A map helps when the villages are far apart. The map of the loch and villages shows how they connect.
Where to stay
Stays range from lodges and hotels to campsites. Hotels, lodges and campsites compared is the place to start, and the Luss accommodation guide covers the most visited village. Book early for summer weekends, and check the official site beside any booking link.
Questions people ask
What is Loch Lomond famous for?
Its islands, its position on the Highland Boundary Fault and Ben Lomond, a 974 m (3,196 ft) Munro on the east shore. It is also the centrepiece of Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park.
What is the prettiest town on Loch Lomond?
Our view, and it is an opinion: Luss, for its lochside lane and pier. Balmaha is a close second if you also want a hill walk. The places page compares every village.
What is the nicest part of Loch Lomond?
Also an opinion: the east shore around Balmaha and Rowardennan is best for walking, and Luss is best for an easy stop by the water. The quieter north has fewer services.
How long should I spend at Loch Lomond?
One day covers one base and one activity, such as Luss and a cruise, or Balmaha and Conic Hill (2 to 3 hours). Two or three days lets you add Ben Lomond (4.5 to 5.5 hours) and a day in the Trossachs.
Is Loch Lomond swimmable?
People swim from the beaches, but treat it as cold open water. The loch can deepen quickly, so do not swim alone, and check the National Park's water-safety advice on the day.
Is Loch Lomond in the Highlands?
Partly. The Highland Boundary Fault crosses the loch at Conic Hill, near Balmaha. The south of the loch lies on the Lowland side and the north on the Highland side.
Is parking free at Loch Lomond?
Mostly not. Luss charges £1.20 an hour, Loch Lomond Shores £4 all day, Balmaha gives the first hour free (then £3 for 2 hours), and Rowardennan is £5 all day. Aberfoyle's Riverside car park is free.
Can you visit Loch Lomond without a car?
Yes. Trains run direct from Glasgow to Balloch about twice an hour, bus 305 serves Luss and bus 309 serves Balmaha. Citylink 975 and 976 and the Ember E5 coach stop at several villages. Rowardennan has no bus, but a summer waterbus connects it with Tarbet.
Can you do Loch Lomond as a day trip from Edinburgh?
It is possible, but we have not verified a journey time, so check your route on the day. Without a car, go by train via Glasgow to Balloch, which has direct trains about twice an hour, and keep to one base.
What's famous about Loch Lomond?
It is the largest lake in Great Britain by surface area, with 22 named islands and 27 islets. It also straddles the Highland Boundary Fault, so Highland and Lowland landscapes meet along its shores.
What are some good day trips I can take from Edinburgh?
Loch Lomond itself is about 90 minutes from Edinburgh by car, or take the direct train to Glasgow Queen Street (the fastest takes about 44 minutes) and a second train on. The Ember E4 coach from Edinburgh also stops at Stirling, Callander and Killin for a Trossachs or Breadalbane day.
Further out
- Trossachs gatewayAberfoyleThe Riverside car park is free, and the Three Lochs Forest Drive entrance is about 2 miles north.
- Trossachs townCallanderOn the River Teith. Car parks cost £3 for 2 hours or £6 all day.
- On the West Highland WayDrymenA village between Balloch and Balmaha on the bus 309 route.
- BreadalbaneKillinAt the western end of Loch Tay, beyond the main loch, in the National Park's Breadalbane area.
- Loch EarnLochearnheadA small village at the western end of Loch Earn, on the way north from the Trossachs.
How this guide works
This is an independent guide. Prices, times and rules come from operators and councils, and each page shows when it was last checked. The last checked page explains how. Where we have no source, we tell you how to check instead of guessing. Read about this guide, the editorial policy and the affiliate disclosure.